Time is ticking in Wisconsin and Washington.
In Madison, Wis., Republican Gov. Scott Walker is seeking to pass an anti-union law that would take away most of the collective bargaining rights of state unions. The law would remove a huge impediment to the state government’s ability to balance its budget each year: the demands of unions.
But, the law is very unpopular among unionized workers and those who support them, leading tens of thousands to protest in the state capital.
Gov. Walker has enough votes to pass the law, but has been stopped by Democrats in the state Senate who have refused to show up for work in Madison. With no Democrats, Wisconsin’s state Senate can’t vote on the law and also loses the ability to take on any other fiscal matters.
As each working day goes by, Wisconsin’s state government can’t function on fiscal matters without the Senate’s Democrats, who have hidden across state lines.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Democratic Commander in-Chief Barak Obama has released a budget that carefully makes cuts but also invests in developments to ensure America stays competitive in years to come. Republicans in the House of Representatives think President Obama’s budget doesn’t cut enough spending.
House Republicans have passed their own bill that cuts a whopping $60 billion from a wide range of areas where the federal government spends—though not much from defense, an industry where Republicans get many of their votes.
Many analysts are saying the president and House Republicans are headed for a showdown. On March 4, if President Obama and House Republicans can’t reach a compromise, then the federal government will shut down, the first such shutdown in 15 years.
If the shutdown does happen, many Americans will feel time ticking one second at a time. Social Security checks won’t go out. National parks and museums will shut down. Passport and visa processing will stop.
In Wisconsin or in Washington, this is a waste of the time and money of taxpaying Americans. We would be funding a government that is not doing its job.
The enemy is not the Democrats or Republicans. The enemy is small-mindedness.
Disagreeing is fine for our lawmakers to do and it is only human. But, when disagreements lead to the overall dysfunction of our society, then its time for some compromises to be made and for someone to start conceding.
Who will be the bigger man? No one I suspect.
If no one is willing to step forward, then by default, it only makes sense that the leader and executive in each scenario be allowed to have his way and see through whatever idea it is that he envisions for the state or country. In Wisconsin, that means Democrats showing up to work and allowing Republicans to pass their anti-union legislation. In Washington, that would mean Republicans must be willing to accept a budget compromise from President Obama, and not get all the cuts or all the press that they want.
What is really at stake? You will hear a lot of lofty talk about the people of Wisconsin and their rights, and about the wildly out-of-control spending of the federal government and the ideals of smaller government. In fact, the politicians involved just don’t want to seem weak. That’s all that is really going on.
The wise politician will be the one who realizes that the road that lies ahead is meant to be shaped by their leader, who has been ordained by fate.
Real strength is knowing your place and waiting for the right time to act.
Friends Read Free
Copy
Facebook
Tweet
